I feel one thing people tend to underestimate is the importance of their home’s curb appeal & backyard areas.  If folks are building a new home or trying to sell their home, they will often have their attention drawn to the outside of the house but other than those instances, it is really easy to walk inside & start thinking about your decorating decisions there.  Just like we practice inside the home, there are a few basic areas to focus upon & some steps to making the outside areas of your property serene & relaxing places in which to spend your time.

Statement of Entry

Check out these two photos:

In the first shot, can you figure out how to get to the door?  Do you see where to enter?  Do you want to enter??  A statement of entry is just that: a STATEMENT!  It tells everyone from the street where the point of entry is & welcomes you right up to & in through your front door.  What a beautiful job the architect did with the new home in the second shot.  What kind of statement are you making?

Yes, architecture plays a big part in curb appeal but there is so much a homeowner can do with what they have.  The folks in the first home might really value their privacy but they might also consider cutting back on the pine branches, thinning the juniper bed & perhaps creating a pathway from the street to the door.

De-clutter, simplify, clean

It seems really basic & obvious to a lot of us, but I bet there are a few neighbors in your hood who think it is totally fine to “store” personal items outside the house in plain sight!

Oy...

Surely they can find an out-of-the-way place for those strollers & kid bikes, the gardening equipment, snow blower, kayak, etc… (of course we know you don’t do this!) Storage sheds, fencing or a well-organized garage offer the easiest solutions to this dilemma.

After we de-clutter the non-décor items we find outside, we’ll spend some time “editing” the outdoor décor items that often accumulate over the years… various furnishings, sculptures, pottery, landscaping features, functional items like BBQ grills, play equipment, sun umbrellas, etc.   Give your area a critical once-over & see if you can eliminate a few items to clean up the look.  Keeping similar things together or balancing them with some symmetry will give a much more organized appearance as well.

Ahh...

Of course it is not necessary to hide the grills or play equipment so try to make sure they are of good quality, well-maintained & as clean as possible.  A reputable, professional window cleaner is also money well spent!

After storing clutter & putting everything that stays in a nice organized spot,  it is time to get the exterior of the house clean!  When is the last time you hosed off the siding to free your house of dust, spider webs & leaves or debris?  Better yet, if your siding, shingles, stone or bricks can handle it, having your home power-washed could potentially bring out the freshness of the materials that you have not seen in years.

Update

Take a look at the lighting fixtures, the front door, garage door, decking, patio & railing materials & all the basic colors on the outside of your home.  Does any one thing jump out at you first?  Perhaps you can make a list & prioritize the projects.  It can certainly be overwhelming when you look at an outdated exterior & think there’s nothing that can be done that will even make a dent in the first impression but again, biting off small projects one at a time is going to get you going in the right direction.

New light fixtures can be surprisingly affordable & make a great first impression.  The street numbers you hang on your house can also be an important style choice.  New door hardware, welcome mat, & decorations would all spruce up this front entry.  The basic maintenance of your planters (re-staining these oak barrels, for example…) will always keep your exterior looking fresh & new.

Add Decor Pieces

We are at the final stages now in improving the outside of your home.  Selecting a few key decorative items to add to your front or back yard will complete the serene setting which will invite your friends & family to spend some time here!  Just as we need inside a home, your yard needs to include some furniture that allows for sitting & relaxing.  A comfortable table & chairs, a bench or even a swing in a tree will encourage time spent outside.

Beyond furniture to sit upon, you & your guests would probably like to have something to look at.  Key focal points can include foliage, gardens, fountains or other water features, sculptures or views.

Think about some of the best outdoor areas you have visited — these also tend to include things to do such as meandering walking paths, bird baths to fill & observe, fire pits to tend to, swings to sit on or push, even a backyard bar from which you may serve drinks!

Thank you once again for coming to Marmot Home Design’s website & blog.  Hopefully  you have been inspired to make some improvements to the outside of your home & will spend some more quality time enjoying the great outdoors!

Next time on MHD.com: I think I’m going to run around taking pictures of my favorite Holiday Decorations for some great ideas you can use on your own house…including ways you can re-use some of the decor you spend your hard-earned money on to spruce up your yard all year long!